Conversation Partner Program

The Conversation Partner Program offered through Renison Student Experience and Housing pairs English language learners with volunteers to provide an intercultural experience through conversation and activities.

As an international student/language learner, you have the opportunity to practice your conversational English outside of the classroom, learn about and explore Canadian culture, and make life-long friends.

As a volunteer, you have the opportunity to learn about various cultures around the world and gain a memorable intercultural experience while helping an international student practice their English. Now is your chance to explore the world even more with your partner and have fun while making a new friend! This program counts towards the Intercultural volunteer experience (IVE) for the Global Experience Certificate (GEC).

View on YouTube
Conversation partners

Program details

PROGRAM DATES AND DEADLINES
Program dates Application Dates
Winter 2025

Applications Open: December 6

Applications Close: January 20 at 11:59pm ET

Partner Pairing: January 24

Program ends: April 14

NOTE: Language learners in English language courses offered through Renison are eligible. 

ELIGIBILITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Eligibilty

English language learner Volunteer
Renison English Language Institute and University of Waterloo students whose first language is not English; and who would like to practise their everyday English conversation skills. Language learners taking non-credit and credit English language courses at Renison are eligible. University of Waterloo students with a strong command of the English language, who would like to learn about new cultures and share Canadian culture through general English conversation.

Responsibilities

English language learner Volunteer
  • Meet with your partner for 1-2 hours per week and maintain contact with your partner regularly throughout the term
  • Respond to your partner (whether or not you can attend a meeting) and reschedule a new meeting with your partner if you cannot attend
  • Create a safe and accountable environment where personal boundaries and privacy of your partner are respected
  • Complete the online mid-term check-in and end-of-term surveys promptly once invited to by the Renison Conversation Partner Coordinator
  • Notify the Renison Conversation Partner Coordinator at ren-cpp@uwaterloo.ca immediately if there are any concerns
  • Submit weekly log hours through our website
  • Complete 20 hours by the end of the program
    • Exception: students matched with students taking the APPLS205R or SWK220R course require completion of 12 hours
  • Meet with your partner in person for 1-2 hours per week and maintain contact with your partner regularly throughout the term
  • Respond to your partner (whether or not you can attend a meeting) and reschedule a new meeting with your partner if you cannot attend
  • Create a safe and accountable environment where personal boundaries and privacy of your partner are respected
  • Complete the online mid-term check-in and end-of-term surveys promptly once invited to by the Renison Conversation Partner Coordinator
  • Notify the Renison Conversation Partner Coordinator at ren-cpp@uwaterloo.ca immediately if there are any concerns
  • Record and submit weekly log hours through our website
  • Complete 20 hours by the end of the program
    • Exception: students taking APPLS205R and SWK220R require completion of 12 hours

NOTE: volunteers are not English language tutors. As such, volunteers are not required to provide language learners assistance with studying, assignments, and/or exams.

MEETING RESOURCES

CPP has returned to in-person meetings since classes are back in person, but in the case of illness or other extenuating circumstances, a few meetings may still take place online.

Communicating:

  • be mindful of time and location check with with your partner to find a mutually agreeable meeting time and location
  • you may choose to use different platforms or social media apps to chat online if you wish eventhough CPP has returned to in person delivery

Ideas for meetings:

  • choose different topics or themes (sports, hobbies, food and restaurants, etc.) to discuss during each meeting
  • choose different articles or stories/paragraphs to read, discuss, or have your partners read out loud and practice their pronunciation
  • send each other photos of meals, locations around your local area, and share what they are
  • look up "idioms" and common phrases 

Have any questions? 

We are happy to help! Connect with Thalia Criollo Guerrero (Student Experience Coordinator) at ren-cpp@uwaterloo.ca .